Arab Group: Let Us Teach History ‘Our Way’
October 27, 2011While Israel has made numerous – so far unsuccessful – attempts to persuade the Palestinian Authority to temper its anti-Israel school curriculum, which essentially denies Israel’s right to exist and considers the entire existence of the state as “the occupation,” Israeli Arab children are set to learn similar ideas in the schools they attend. A new guidance document from the Arab Pedagogic Council – which is made up of schools in Israeli Arab towns and villages and is supported financially by schools which draw their budgets from the government, seeks to implement a vicious anti-Israel curriculum in schools, telling the story of “Palestine” from the same perspective that the PA does.
The document, titled “Purposes of Education and Teacher Guidance for the Palestinian Minority in Israel,” was published this week with the backing and approval of Arab political leaders, including Knesset members.
In the document’s introduction, the authors set the agenda by describing the “historical facts” which the Council recommends as setting the basis for all history and civics lessons in schools. “Like the rest of the nations of the world,” the document says, “Palestinians progressed in the development of Palestinian cities and towns, and of agriculture. Then came the ‘Nakba,’” the document continues, using the Arab term for “destruction” that is used to describe the establishment of Israel, “which we are still in the midst of.
“Among the tools the Zionists used in setting up a national home for Jewish people were violence and racism, fear-mongering, destruction, uprooting of homes and communities, theft, and ethnic cleansing,” the document says. “These things caused a destruction for the Palestinian people. But these events also caused a sharpening of the Palestinian identity both in the diaspora and in the homeland.”
The Council says it released the guidelines to counter what it says was Israel’s restrictions on Arab education systems, which are not permitted to present “the facts of history.” It recommends that history and civics be treated like religion – with all curriculum and materials provided by an expert committee with expertise in the area.
The Education Ministry said that the document was not official and and not been approved for use as a guideline.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...